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| 🙏❤️ Nurturing, Nourishing, Empowering – Pregnancy Yoga 🧘🏻‍♂️ 🙏❤️|
So . this was me .. on my own in my studio (yet connecting virtually) Wednesday evening, March 25th 2020; teaching pregnancy yoga (an hour + class condensed into 1min 🧐😅) … online … for the 2nd time.
There’s a strength that comes from connecting as a small gathering of women at this magical time for them. Recognising this but anticipating a necessity to support social distancing for the greater good of the health of the nation and our NHS .. the Pregnancy Yoga Course was taken online (18/03/20)
My inspiration for working quickly to keep this special ‘vulnerable’ group all connected at this challenging time … 🙏❤️😘
The next April #Nurturing, #Nourishing and #Empowering Pregnancy Yoga Course starts next week ..
It’s taken in real time at home through zoom …
If you know anyone who could benefit please share 🙏❤️
#kindness 

#support #together 

#pregnancyyogainmarketharborough 

#helpthroughchsllengingtime

So ..No wine here !
… but …
.. ‘twine’ what associations do you make ?

… a String ? … A Strong thread ? … A cord ? .. Weaving ? .. Connecting ? … Creating ? … Pulling together ? .. Holding in place ? .. Strength? … Flexibility ? … Support ?

In this afternoon workshop you’ll experience all of this, and more, as we take an afternoon ‘out’ for you. We’ll be releasing energy blocks, opening up in mind, body and spirit, sharing energy and connecting with others; getting in ‘the flow’.

You’ll leave not only feeling, refreshed, revitalised, and connected but also with that high that comes from having been in the flow of artistic expression. You’ll take away a gorgeous bird feeder, that you’ll have created in the process, to sustain wildlife for a few years to come.

This workshop commences with a yoga practice to target and tap into your creativity: To Awaken your Inner Artist.
We’ll practice awareness in asana (poses), pranayama (breath/breathing) and meditation. We’ll let go of distractions of the mind, to clear the way for inspiration. Creativity arises naturally in states of stillness and presence.
No previous experience of yoga is necessary.

We’ll move on to a two hour workshop of ‘creating’, with the wonderful Kerstin from Somerby Basketry, leading, teaching and guiding. We’ll be learning traditional crafting methods and using natural willow, sourced as locally as possible. You’ll take away a beautiful birdfeeder to use having the satisfaction of knowing you’ve created it yourself as well as sustaining wildlife.

All materials for the willow weaving workshop will be provided.

You will need to bring your own yoga mat for the yoga practice along with a cushion or bolster and a blanket.

Have you ever felt stuck ?  Maybe you’ve had a physical feeling of ‘stuck-ness’ or an issue like writer’s block, impeding your creativity, or you’ve felt stuck in a job or relationship ? 

It’s clear from the often articulated … “It’s just what I need(ed) … “Thank you” .. voiced before or after a yoga practice, that many recognise the physical benefits of freeing up the body.  It’s noticed how yoga is a way to get your body moving. But .. perhaps less widely acknowledged, recognised or attributed, is that it’s a great method for activating internal energies: shifting thought patterns and opening up to creative inspiration.  For me clarity only arises during those moments of stillness created through a yoga and mindfulness practice.   

So, how can yoga help you to ‘let go’ ?

 .. To move forward, to let go of who you think you ‘should be’ of what you think you are ‘supposed’ to achieve, of ‘how’ you believe you should look and ‘what’ you ‘should’ feel like and, perhaps most challenging, to let go of harsh self-judgment and inner-critic.

3 Tips to ‘let go’ of anything holding you back, unleash your creativity and move forward : To grow 🌱

1) Notice what ‘fears’ might be holding you back and address them.  Eg. Perhaps you’re not starting tasks because you think you’re not ‘good enough’  Release that belief. Schedule your tasks, set a timer, (50mins) and do what you can.

2) Set intentions to keep you focused, productive, avoiding distractions that might zap your energy and help to move you forward.  Eg. Remind yourself of a simple intention to ‘be kind’, be kind to ‘yourself’ through activities that will nourish you and your energy.  Schedule regular self -care, things that you love to do, try to involve physical activity and improve your physical fitness / energy eg. walks in nature/outdoors, socialising with friends, a fitness activity, yoga.

2) Get lost in your breath, be in the moment.  Bring your awareness to your breath. Connect with your breath. Visualise a deep breath coming in: nurturing, nourishing and revitalising your body/mind and spirit and a big sigh out releasing any tension of the moment.  Breathe it all in, let it all go, re-center and go to that safe, comfortable place within. Each new breath is an opportunity to start afresh.

Racheleyoga October Class themes have centred on ‘letting go’ releasing what doesn’t serve us so that we can move forward.

If you live in the Market Harborough area and you’d like to explore the benefits of practising yoga to unleash ‘your’ creativity: whether you are new to yoga or not .. Do join us in our next event:

Time outdoors is one of the most valuable gifts that you can give yourself. This retreat evening kicks off the first of a series of Summer Sunday Mindful Meanderings 🙏❤️:

An opportunity to slow down, make time for yourself; create space, reconnect with body and bring clarity to mind: To explore.
You’ll benefit from an immersion in nature 🌱🦋and the proven effects this has on improving mental health ❤️and wellbeing.

An exploration into nourishing the mind, body and spirit through the sharing of yoga, mindfulness, meditation and healthy gut nutrition / supper.

After welcoming/introductions .. we’ll find a quiet area amidst the Foxton Canal-side / Countryside to practice a mindful walking meditation. (No previous experience necessary for this or the Yin Yoga – all necessary coaching/guidance will be provided)

Next up a steady and nourishing, outdoor yin yoga practice (weather permitting), enjoying panoramic views across the Foxton countryside, allowing you to gradually unwind, restore and recharge. This will consist of meditation, pranayama (breath work) and asana (physical postures).

We’ll complete our mindful meanderings event with a nourishing healthy demo and Supper as a group so that you have the opportunity to connect with like-minded souls.

Please bring suitable footwear for canal/countryside walk and a coat / layers to be prepared for the Great British weather ☺️

For the yoga practice you will need to bring a mat, clothing layers, and blanket.

All experience levels are welcome, including those newer to yoga.

Investment is £40
Places limited to 12 so early booking is essential BOOK NOW

If you would like to give this day retreat as a gift, gift vouchers are available. Please contact me for more details.

T&C’s
Regrettably should you wish to cancel your place, payments are non-refundable. Racheleyoga cannot guarantee the weather and if it is unsuitable on the day .. some of the events may be moved indoors.
Booking is via the tickets link 

No surprise that research shows ‘taking more vacation results in greater success at work as well as lower stress and more happiness at work and home’ (The Data-Driven Case for Vacation, Shawn Achor & Michelle Gielan, Harvard Business Review) .

Touching down on the Costa Rican soil at Tamarindo airport a sense of: calm and excitement, anticipation of friendships to be made, adventures to be had, learnings, experiences, new skills to be gained, and inspiration to be harnessed, was observed.

In being closer to nature in all its forms ; a connection to the earth helping the brain to unwind is witnessed. The Tamarindo coastline bringing birds, fish, iguanas, sloths, monkeys, crabs, birds of paradise and all other manner of wildlife, all experiencing the same sensations as the humans on the beach with them.  This interconnectedness is comforting and was embraced.

Teachings from inspirational yoga teacher Amber Gean are laced with affectionate stories about the late Larry Schultz, founder of Rocket Yoga, named as such because it ‘gets you there faster’.  In one such story Amber tells of Larry planning his yoga practice session for Jerry Garcia, the singer-songwriter for the band ‘Grateful Dead’.  Larry was yoga instructor to the band and would tour with them.  When he wasn’t touring he would stay in a cottage close by.  The story has it that Larry, wondering how to motivate the less than agile Jerry, thought he’d hit a lightbulb moment when he came up with the idea of teaching him Nauli,  this is a kriya / cleansing breath.  (Sajeeva Yoga gives a good description here if you are interested).

On the morning of the practice in question Larry strode up to Jerry with full enthusiasm demonstrating the practice right in front of him (you have to see the visualisation ..it involves taking a big exhale, folding forward and ‘churning’ the abdominal area) . Anyway poor Larry’s enthusiasm and effort was met by derision and bad language as he got dispatched back to his cottage … ‘Nauliland’ .. as it became known by the band .. the place where ‘Nauli-man’ lived and did all those ‘weird’… ‘yoga type’.. things ….

Why is this significant ?  Well .. I think I have a name for my yoga cabin !  My ‘why’, for doing what I do, comes from the healing that I observed for myself some years ago going through anxiety issues.   Yoga was, and still is, my medicine and I’m driven and passionate about sharing its power with others.  Years ago I visioned a sanctuary in my garden where a community might meet, experience and share the ‘weird teachings of yoga’ …perhaps its called Nauliland ? … Welcome to ‘Rocket School’ ❤️🙏🚀